• The Trump family is discussing a financial stake in crypto exchange Binance, sources told The Wall Street Journal.
• Binance's founder is also pushing for a pardon from the Trump administration.
• It remains to be seen what the possible deal could look like.

Donald Trump's family has discussed a potential stake in Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

If successful, the talks would tie the US president to a firm guilty of breaching anti-money laundering requirements. While Binance still operates a limited US arm, its core business has exited the US and operates primarily overseas.

According to the Journal, discussions started when Binance offered Trump allies a business deal last year in exchange for the company being allowed to return to the US. Meanwhile, sources indicate that founder Changpeng Zhao has been angling for a White House pardon.

It remains to be seen how a possible deal could play out. The Trump family could buy a stake directly or seek a position through World Liberty Financial, a crypto project championed by the Trumps.

Sources said that Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East and family friend, is involved in negotiations — though an administration official disputed this, the Journal said. Witkoff and his two sons are also co-founders of World Liberty, though he has stepped away from the firm.

It's unclear whether a deal is dependent on the pardon. Zhao, better known in crypto circles as CZ, served four months in prison. Though he was required to step down in 2023 due to the anti-money laundering settlement, he maintains a majority stake in the company.

Binance also paid $4.3 billion to settle US allegations, including claims that the crypto platform facilitated transactions with groups sanctioned by Washington.

Sources told the Journal that discussions have been ongoing since Trump's inauguration in January.

A deal with the exchange would align with Trump's crypto interests since he touted his pro-crypto stance on the campaign trail. The president launched a memecoin in January and has signed orders meant to boost the industry.

If you’ve bought bottled water from Trader Joe’s, you’ll want to be aware of a recent recall published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). That’s because the recall involves water in glass bottles that present a laceration risk. In total, about 61,500 bottles are included in the recall. Here’s what you need to know.

What is being recalled?

The recall involves select lots of Gerolsteiner brand sparkling water sold at Trader Joe’s. The water was manufactured by Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG in Germany.

Here are the details of the recalled product:

• Product name: Gerolsteiner 750ml Sparkling Water Bottles
• Lot numbers: 11/28/2024 L or 11/27/2024 L

According to the CPSC notice, the recalled units were sold individually for about $3 per bottle and also sold in cases of 15 bottles. Around 61,500 bottles are thought to be impacted.

The large glass bottles can be identified by the white, blue, and red label with the name “Gerolsteiner” on the front of it. The lot number of the bottle can be viewed on the lower part of the label.

According to a separate notice on the Gerolsteiner website, the best-before dates on the products are December 2027.

Why is the bottled water being recalled?

The reason for the bottled water recall doesn’t have to do with the water itself. Instead the recall has been issued because there is a defect with the glass water bottle the sparkling water comes in.

That bottle can crack, leading to a laceration hazard. While there is a risk to individuals handling the recalled bottles, the CPSC says that so far, no incidents or injuries have been reported.

Where and when were the recalled bottled waters sold?

The recalled bottled waters were sold at Trader Joe’s stores in 12 states between December 2024 and January 2025. Individual bottles retailed for about $3.

The 12 states where the bottled water was sold are:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas

What do I do if I have the recalled bottled water?

If you have the recalled bottled water, you should immediately stop using the bottles, says the CPSC. Instead, you should return the bottles to their place of purchase.

The CPSC notice notes that you will not need to have your proof of purchase but that the bottle of the product is required in order to receive a refund, which may be in the form of credit or cash.